j_cheney: (Dogs of War)
J. Kathleen Cheney ([personal profile] j_cheney) wrote2007-11-26 06:29 pm

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Apparently the Single-kidney Dog has Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia. Not rat poison after all. This could mean eternal steriods for the dog, or it could go away. She's never exhibited it before, so I'm hoping that it's something triggered by her surgery (or possibly the dirt-eating).

Other than getting the dog to the vet, I got a lot of housework done, made a second trip to the vet, posted off a mss, some grocery shopping, registered my car. Cooked 3 meals. No writing (or revising) yet. Will probably watch Chuck in a bit, and then get to work....

I'm glad we know what's causing it now. Thanks for all the kind wishes before!

[identity profile] jjschwabach.livejournal.com 2007-11-27 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm... from what little I know of People Medicine, the dirt eating could have been a symptom, not a cause? Pica (eating things which are not food) is usually either psychological or the body's attempt to obtain nutrients it is lacking. It may have been caused by the surgery, might be related to the earlier kidny problem, or might be a whole new thing.

At least it sounds treatable, even if it ends up being meds for life.

Here's hoping that it's the kind that will go away in a short while.

Al....though.... If every $500 means she has to live six more months....

[identity profile] j-cheney.livejournal.com 2007-11-27 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
Actually, in dogs 'dirt eating' is almost always considered a behavioral disorder. She started doing it when we abandoned her (to go to NY) and has quit now that we're back. She's also stopped the pooping indoors.

We haven't worked out how to enforce the 'continuing life' contract yet.

[identity profile] countesslovlace.livejournal.com 2007-11-27 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
Our cat acted really clingy when we got back from NY. It didn't help that we went to see my mother-in-law for a few days the following weekend.

I've dealt with two cats that had incurable diseases so you have my sympathy.

[identity profile] j-cheney.livejournal.com 2007-11-27 03:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! Sympathy welcome....

[identity profile] j-cheney.livejournal.com 2007-11-27 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
However, it is also possible that she was trying to get 'iron' somehow, and eating dirt for that. Only problem was she threw up most of it.

::shrugs::